Tiger Woods on his preparations for his Masters comeback: ‘I worked my [butt] off.’

Tiger Woods was in good spirits as he chatted with the media during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. Just two days before he tees off in the Masters, the 39-year-old who was last seen on the PGA Tour in February before taking a leave of absence was succinct about his motivation to return.

“Winning,” he said. “I like it.”

Woods, who will be trying for his fifth green jacket this week, said he knows it won’t be easy, though.

“This golf course is very, very demanding. You have to have every part of your game going,” said Woods, who last won at Augusta a decade ago. “The emphasis has become more on driving than in the past. You can’t just go over parts of the golf course like you used to.”

Woods is experiencing a lot he’s not used to going into this week’s tournament.

Per The Washington Post’s Dave Sheinin: “Woods has not completed four rounds in any tournament since the British Open last July, has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open and has fallen to 111th in the latest World Golf Rankings.”

To get out of this proverbial sand trap, Woods said, “I worked my [butt] off,” and according to Sheinin, “Woods’s short game appeared to be in decent enough shape (on) Monday” when Woods was spotted practicing.

Woods mental state also seemed better on Tuesday during the press conference, with many golf insiders and sports fans noting they saw a much more relaxed individual than they’ve grown used to.

That's about as relaxed as we'll ever see Tiger Woods -- especially before a major championship. Chatty, funny, introspective.

Woods was open about other aspects of his life, as well, highlighting what he’s been listening to on his earbuds while practicing (a 300-song hip hop playlist) and his two kids, Sam and Charlie, who he was seen earlier on Tuesday hugging on the course.

When Woods confirmed he’s enter the par-3 contest, a reporters asked him who would be his caddie.

“I have two of them, actually,” Woods said, referring to his children with ex-wife Elin Nordegren.

Marissa PayneMarissa Payne wrote for The Early Lead blog. She left The Washington Post in November 2017. Follow